"A COLA that reflects real cost changes is essential, and of far greater value for protecting income in retirement than a measure that reflects how people are forced to reduce their standard of living when costs rise," Johnson says. "One gives a modest boost, the other would tend cap the growth in Social Security benefits over time." .(Photo: iStockphoto) .In response to heightened concerns over antibiotic resistance, two dozen of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have formally launched a billion for-profit venture fund to replenish the global medicine chest with novel treatments. .Yes, of course, Americans' health is priceless, and reining in a deadly virus that has trashed the economy would be invaluable. .On Tuesday, Senators on the influential Finance Committee held a hearing titled "Examining the Proposed Medicare Part B Drug Demonstration." Dr. Patrick Conway testified before the full committee on the status of the controversial demonstration program, which was proposed by CMS earlier this year and has not yet been implemented. The program will test new payment strategies for hospitals and physicians who administer prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries receiving outpatient care. It is a new attempt by the Obama Administration to move away from a medical system that rewards volume of care and towards one that values high-quality care. .Click here to add your name to a petition, learn how you can help, or take a poll. .TSCL is a strong supporter of H.R. 973, and we were pleased to see support grow for it this week. .In the past, supplemental benefits offered by MA plans were only required to be primarily health related and typically included dental, hearing or vision benefits. Starting in 2019, new supplemental benefits must be medically appropriate and recommended by a licensed provider as part of a care plan, and not offered simply to induce enrollment. Examples of the new supplemental benefits include adult day care services, in-home support services, home and bathroom safety devices, transportation, and home-based palliative care. However, to qualify for these benefits, you must be diagnosed with a condition for which these benefits are necessary, and the benefits must be listed by your physician as part of your plan of care. .We could, too, but would need to consider mechanisms outside of our current box — at least for this national emergency.